Gas–liquid mass transfer in three-phase inverse fluidized bed reactor with Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids

✍ Scribed by V. Sivasubramanian

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 147 KB
• Volume: 5
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1932-2135
• DOI: 10.1002/apj.290

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Liquid‐phase volumetric mass transfer coefficients, k~L~a were determined in three‐phase inverse fluidized beds of low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP) spheres fluidized by a countercurrent flow of air and Newtonian (water and glycerol solutions) or non‐Newtonian liquids [carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) solutions]. The effects of liquid and gas velocities, particle size, solid loading and addition of organic additives (glycerol and CMC) on the volumetric mass transfer coefficient, k~L~a were determined. The superficial liquid velocity had a weak effect on the mass transfer whereas the gas flow rate affected the mass transfer positively. k~L~a increased with increase in particle diameter and decreased with increase in initial bed height (solid loading). k~L~a decreased as the concentration of glycerol (viscosity) and CMC increased. Empirical correlations are presented to predict the gas–liquid volumetric mass transfer coefficient in terms of operating variables. Copyright © 2009 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.